COVID-19 and Pacific Food System Resilience: Opportunities to Build a Robust Response

Food Security (2020) 12:783–791 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-020-01087-y

OPINION PIECE

COVID-19 and Pacific food system resilience: opportunities to build a robust response

Penny Farrell 1 & Anne Marie Thow1 & Jillian Tutuo Wate2 & Nichol Nonga3 & Penina Vatucawaqa4 & Tom Brewer5 & Michael K. Sharp5,6 & Anna Farmery5 & Helen Trevena1 & Erica Reeve7 & Hampus Eriksson2,5 & Itziar Gonzalez4 & Georgina Mulcahy1 & Jacob G. Eurich8,9 & Neil L. Andrew5

Received: 19 May 2020 /Accepted: 9 July 2020 / Published online: 20 July 2020 # International Society for Plant Pathology and Springer Nature B.V. 2020

Abstract The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of the Pacific food system to externalities and has had far- reaching impacts, despite the small number of COVID-19 cases recorded thus far. Measures adopted to mitigate risk from the pandemic have had severe impacts on tourism, remittances, and international trade, among other aspects of the political economy of the region, and are thus impacting on food systems, food security and livelihoods. Of particular concern will be the interplay between loss of incomes and the availability and affordability of local and imported foods. In this paper, we examine some of the key pathways of impact on food systems, and identify opportunities to strengthen Pacific food systems during these challenging times. The great diversity among Pacific Island Countries and Territories in their economies, societies, and agricultural potential will be an important guide to planning interventions and developing scenarios of alternative futures. Bolstering regional production and intraregional trade in a currently import-dependent region could strengthen the regional economy, and provide the health benefits of consuming locally produced and harvested fresh foods – as well as decreasing reliance on global supply chains. However, significant production, processing, and storage challenges remain and would need to be consistently overcome to influence a move away from shelf-stable foods, particularly during periods when human movement is restricted and during post-disaster recovery.

Keywords Food security . Policy . Food systems . Pacific . COVID-19, pandemic

Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-020-01087-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

* Penny Farrell Helen Trevena penny.farrell@sydney.edu.au [email protected]

Anne Marie Thow Erica Reeve [email protected] [email protected] Jillian Tutuo Wate Hampus Eriksson [email protected] [email protected]

Nichol Nonga Itziar Gonzalez [email protected] [email protected]

Penina Vatucawaqa Georgina Mulcahy [email protected] [email protected] Tom Brewer Jacob G. Eurich [email protected] [email protected] Michael K. Sharp [email protected] Neil L. Andrew [email protected] Anna Farmery [email protected] Extended author information available on the last page of the article 784 Farrell P. et al.

1300 The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis with many Domestic Production faces. It has exposed the vulnerability of the Pacific food sys- 1200 Net Imports (Imports - Exports) tem to externalities and has had far-reaching impacts, despite 1100 the small number of cases recorded thus far. In many respects, COVID-19 has ‘landed’ in the 21 countries and territories of 1000 the region, more as a suite of social, economic and food secu- 900 rity issues than as a health crisis per se. Although the pandemic has yet to fully reveal itself as a health crisis in the region, it 800 has prompted national governments and regional develop- 700

ment partners to develop mitigation and adaptation measures day per capita per Grams at a scale not previously experienced in the region. 600 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are striv- 500 ing to ensure that COVID-19 does not evolve into a health crisis. The measures adopted to mitigate this risk – notably 400 1982 1986 2014 restrictions on the movement of people within and among 1980 1984 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2016 – countries have had severe impacts on tourism, remittances, Year and international trade, among other aspects of the political Fig. 1 Comparison of trends in food (crop) production and food economy of the region. PICTs are food import- and trade, in grams, per capita per day. Domestic production data remittance-dependent economies (Connell 2013), and many includes crops, excluding cash crops. Trade data (net imports) includes are heavily reliant on income from tourism (e.g. Fiji, French foods relevant to food security, excluding cash crops; tuna was also Polynesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Samoa) (Wood 2020). The excluded due to uncertainty in estimates. See Supplementary materials for Fig. 1 for the list of: a foods included in the production and trade time cessation of tourism is expected to result in substantial losses series data and b) countries included in the presented annual mean to economies – forecast scenarios in the range of US$1–2 production and trade estimates. Note, Fiji and Papua New Guinea were billion regionally (Pacific Community 2020). Such losses excluded due to their disproportionate influence on per capita estimates. are realized across many parts of national economies, includ- Trade data derived from the Pacific Food Trade Database (Brewer et al. 2020). Crop production data downloaded from Food and Agriculture ing unemployment, business failure, and changed patterns in Organization of the United Nations (2020a). Population data sourced the production and distribution of food. Reliance on remit- from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2020b) tances is also high: across 11 PICTs, funds transferred from overseas kin account for an average of 9.7% of GDP (Pacific Community 2020). Some countries have already experienced prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases are par- substantial falls in remittances since the COVID-19 outbreak ticularly high in PICTs (Anderson 2013). (Graue 2020). These trends and events highlight the complexity of ad- National food systems in the Pacific region share attributes dressing the food security dimensions of the COVID-19 pan- with those in other Small Island Developing States (SIDS). demic, in a landscape already challenged by processes and Much of their fragility is due to geographic remoteness, grow- climate shocks that threaten economies and societies. In the ing import dependence, and in many places, limited arable land last month, for example, Tropical Cyclone Harold swept and declining agriculture production (Fig. 1). The region expe- through Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, and Fiji in the rienced a dramatic decline in per capita domestic crop produc- midst of COVID-19 mitigation preparations, destroying hous- tionuptothemid-1990s,whichhasnotbeenrecovered. es and crops. The confluence of the cyclone and COVID-19 Staple foods, particularly rice and wheat, account for much led to a tragic loss of life in the sea off the island of Malaita in of the volume of food imported to the region, but nutrient Solomon Islands, as people travelled to their home villages dense and sugary food and beverages are also rising markedly. from the capital (Kaukui 2020). These trends in the availability of foods over the past half Even in the much-desired scenario that the region remains century (Thaman 1982) are reflected in diets which have largely free of widespread infection, its impacts will manifest shifted from being high in locally grown fresh fruits and veg- in many different ways (Table 1). The range of potential and etables, seeds and nuts, lean meat and seafood, to diets high in actual impacts for food systems and food security in the processed and often imported foods (Thow et al. 2011). Pacific region shown in Table 1 may be seen as a subset of Consequently, the triple burden of malnutrition1 is a large those noted globally (Haddad et al. 2020a, b). Of particular and growing issue in the region (Global Nutrition Report concern will be the interplay between loss of incomes and the 2018; Hughes and Lawrence 2005; Sievert et al. 2019)and availability and affordability of local and imported foods. A disproportionate burden may fall on women and children as

1 The coexistence of undernutrition, overnutrition and micronutrient local availability and affordability of food is impacted through deficiencies. the closure of informal markets (Table 1). In Solomon Islands, COVID-19 and Pacific food system resilience: opportunities to build a robust response 785

Table 1 Summary of key potential food system impacts in the Pacific region

Global analysis of potential COVID-19 Pacific-specific food system context Potential food system, food security and related impacts on food systems nutrition impacts in Pacific

Production Access to inputs may be limited by Existing challenges in access to inputs, Increased demand for locally grown staples restrictions on travel, reducing services, labour and finance; relatively (e.g. root crops) if prices of imported agricultural production, yields and long production cycles for root crops; data commodities rise. Potential for increased income; access to services may be gaps in domestic production potential. participation in home gardening/own reduced (e.g. veterinary, extension account production; even if production services). Decreased demand and increases still variability in capacity, purchasing power will reduce investment especially by geography and access to and technology, further reducing technologies; challenges to access inputs, availability. Seasonal impact needs to be services, labour and finance exacerbated. considered. Little global commentary on fisheries to Fish are the dominant animal-source food; Demand and domestic catch of fish may date. Bechedemeris an important source of increase; probable major disruptions to income for many rural communities. regionally important tuna industry will impact on national access to tuna and economies. Restrictions on movement of people impacts Many Pacific Island Countries and Reduction in labour force mobility may seasonal agricultural workforce especially Territories (PICTs) are contribute to declines in income, which relevant for labour-intensive crops, such remittance-dependent; seasonal can have direct implications for people’s as fruits and vegetables. Higher agricultural labour to Australia and New access to food; disease and limited health vulnerability to COVID-19 for elderly Zealand is significant. services will impair agricultural output in farmers. Decreased ability for companies the instance of high disease rates. to care for workers health and wellbeing Population flows from urban to rural (across global supply chain). areas, e.g. people returning to home villages, may influence availability of local rural labour for agriculture. Increased levels of post-harvest losses due to Regionally produced foods subject to high Existing post-harvest losses potentially reduced workforce. losses. exacerbated due to supply chain disruptions; potential for investment in primary processing, local distribution. Processing Food companies (domestic and external) Limited domestic processing in PICTs and Reduced availability / increased prices for facing increased demand for processed high dependence on imported inputs; domestically produced staples and food staples may experience input shortages village processing important for short that is usually processed in-country; local due to production and transport being distance/domestic distribution. processing of tuna disrupted; shortages of affected. Small and Medium Enterprises imported processed and packaged foods (SMEs) at risk of bankruptcy. possible – both basic e.g. milk powder, tinned foods, and also highly processed foods (unhealthy discretionary foods). SMEs particularly affected. Distribution Restricted international trade, including All PICTs net-food-importers of staple Possible reductions in staple foods; exports from some countries; air freight (energy) foods. shortages of imported processed and and shipping likely to be reduced; price packaged foods possible (unhealthy increase in export (non-PICT) countries discretionary foods); possibility to shorten raising affordability concerns for PICTs; supply chains including intra-regional potential backlog at ports and airports trade. during and post-crisis. Impacts on internal trade and distribution Common to have food transported between Domestically produced food supply to urban due to reduced travel and quarantine and within islands domestically; some centres reduced (e.g. root crops, fruit, measures, including restricted internal reliance on public transport for food vegetables); potential reductions in borders. transport; kin networks important for distribution of imported food to rural sharing of food. Pacific is areas; likely differential impacts for import-dependent for fuel. producers (e.g. based on geographical location, own transport); home gardening won’t be affected. Any disruptions to fuel imports could impact stove fuels for cooking. Food Fresh food markets reduced due to Open markets major source fresh fruit and Access to and consumption of fresh food market restrictions on gatherings; food safety vegetables, meat etc.; hygiene and food may be reduced in urban areas; If concerns (hygiene). Closure of farmers’ safety may be an issue. livelihoods affected, food security and/or markets and stalls for selling fresh fruit ability to purchase different food may be 786 Farrell P. et al.

Table 1 (continued)

Global analysis of potential COVID-19 Pacific-specific food system context Potential food system, food security and related impacts on food systems nutrition impacts in Pacific

and vegetables increase food waste and affected; non-cash food economies likely reduce farmers’ abilitytosellfoodand to become more important in village thus have a stable livelihood; reduce the economies; gendered impacts are evident ability of consumers to access fresh fruit from the restriction in informal marketing, and vegetables. with women and youths most commonly taking up economic activities for sale of subsistence produce in the margins of the formal economy. Potential supply concerns for supermarkets, Small stores a major source of food in Stores and supermarkets may be unable to may be price gouging; commodity prices region; supermarkets important source of source some stocks and prices may could also fall due to a lack of demand. food in urban areas. increase for goods in short supply. Types of foods consumed could change in Differential impacts rural/urban and response to change in prices. differences between PICTs; price gouging may impact food security. Declines in food eaten away from home with Informal food service significant in Informal sector may be unable to access physical/social isolation public health economy. (physical/financial) food ingredients; measures. SMEs likely to be particularly affected. Dietary changes both positive (reduced ‘fast’ food), and negative (reduced dietary diversity). Probable shift to long-shelf-life and staple Limited storage capacities for fresh foods, Greater consumption of staple and processed foods with changed shopping behaviour particularly in low income areas. foods may exacerbate diet transition, due to physical distancing efforts; reduced mediated by availability, accessibility, consumption of fresh vegetables and other affordability of the substitute food and perishable products. dietary habits. Food substitution and access issues will Intra-household power dynamics very Increase in domestic violence and conflict differentially impact women and children. influential to food distribution in the within households could increase food Pacific region. insecurity for vulnerable groups.

Table derived from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition’s ‘The COVID-19 Crisis and Food Systems: probable impacts and potential mitigation and adaptation responses’ (Haddad et al. 2020b), and informed by Aqorau 2020; Eriksson et al. 2020; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2020c;Haddadetal.2020a; High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition 2020;Husainetal.2020; Wood 2020 for example, women comprise the majority of sellers in such crops, and a majority of households are engaged in agriculture markets now disrupted due to COVID-19 related restrictions, in some way on the estimated 1.1 million hectares of agricul- with knock-on effects on household and village economies tural land in use (Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (Eriksson et al. 2020). As market places are changing, tradi- et al. 2019). Such a future is less plausible for the atoll nations tional practices of bartering and sharing are also on the rise of Micronesia where the production, trade, and consumption (Maclellan 2020).Theexistingchallengesofagriculturalpro- of fish, particularly tuna sourced through potentially very long duction and a high degree of food import dependence within supply chains, is more likely to be prominent. the region have the potential to exacerbate the impacts of Bolstering regional production and intraregional trade in a COVID-19 responses. Given the nature of imported foods, it currently import-dependent region could strengthen the re- is not axiomatic that COVID-19 will lead to a reduction in the gional economy, and provide the health benefits of consuming quality of diets. locally produced fresh foods – as well as decreasing reliance Extreme necessity can be a time for positive policy inno- on global supply chains. Significant production, processing vation. Our summary (Table 1) identifies some potential pos- and storage challenges remain and would need to be consis- itive intersections that could prompt re-visioning of aspects of tently overcome to influence a move away from shelf-stable the food system in the region. The great diversity among foods, particularly during periods when human movement is PICTs in their economies, societies and environments will restricted and during post-disaster recovery. Supply chains be an important guide to planning interventions and develop- vary in complexity and vulnerability to disruption. Their abil- ing scenarios of alternative futures. Papua New Guinea, Fiji, ity to respond quickly will depend on many factors including Solomon Islands, and other larger nations may envision fu- characteristics of the food itself, resilience of the distribution tures with a resurgent agricultural base. In Solomon Islands, chains, and a preparedness to change. There is an opportunity for example, growing conditions are favourable for a range of to adapt supply chains in response to COVID-19 by building COVID-19 and Pacific food system resilience: opportunities to build a robust response 787 on responses to climate change and natural disasters Authors’ contributions PF, AMT, ER, HA, HT, AF, TB, GM, IG, JE, (Cvitanovic et al. 2016) which will mean supply chains are NA wrote and reviewed the manuscript. PF, AMT, ER, HA, HT, AF, TB, GM, IG, NA, JW, MS, NN, PV contributed to Table 1, and the design and more resilient in the long-term. These include increasing co- final review of the manuscript. JE, MS, TB and NA performed original ordination and transparency of food trade within the region analysis for Fig. 1. (Steiner et al. 2020), particularly for root crops; ensuring access to finance and inputs to increase local production; better Funding information Supported by funding from the Australian govern- integration of local food producers into local and regional ment through ACIAR project FIS/2018/155. value chains; and increased local processing and packaging Compliance with ethical standards to reduce food waste (Table 1). Enhancing storage, processing, and distribution of food Conflicts of interest/competing interests The authors declare no con- commodities is vital in mitigating food and nutrition security flicts of interest impacts during the current crisis. For example, strengthening food storage and inter- and intra-island transport has been shown to increase consumption of fresh foods (and thus avert References mortality and morbidity from diet-related non-communicable diseases) in Fiji (Snowdon et al. 2011). There may also be Anderson, I. (2013). The economic costs of non-communicable diseases benefits to prioritising less perishable food (e.g. root crops) in the Pacific Islands: A rapid Stocktake of the situation in Samoa, in Pacific supply chains, which lack adequate storage for more Tonga and Vanuatu. Washington DC: USA. Aqorau, T. (2020). COVID-19 and its likely impact on the tuna industry perishable items such as fish. Strengthening consumer de- in the Pacific Islands. DevPolicyBlog. Canberra, Australia: mand has also been shown to enhance supply and demand Development policy Centre, Australian National University. systems and reduce post-harvest food waste (Underhill et al. Bennett, N. J., Finkbeiner, E. M., Ban, N. C., Belhabib, D., Jupiter, S. D., 2017). Education for behaviour change has the potential to Kittinger, J. N., et al. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic, small-scale increase demand for locally produced foods (Cvitanovic fisheries and coastal fishing. Communities: Taylor & Francis. Brewer, T. D., Abbott, D., Lal, N., Sharp, M., Thow, AM., Andrew, N.L. et al. 2016; Vermeulen et al. 2019). (2020). A method for cleaning trade data for regional analysis: The Working through COVID-19 may strengthen the ability of Pacific Food Trade Database Version 1 (1995-2016). Pacific sectors to work together in more integrated ways; discussions Community Working Paper. Noumea, New Caledonia: Pacific around food and food systems must intersect with health and Community the environment (Bennett et al. 2020). For example, recent Connell, J. (2013). Islands at risk? Environments, economies and contemporary change: Edward Elgar publishing. analysis from the UK on the impact of COVID-19 on food Cvitanovic, C., Crimp, S., Fleming, A., Bell, J., Howden, M., Hobday, systems (Sharpe et al. 2020) has shown that “… government A., et al. (2016). Linking adaptation science to action to build food reactions to food supply issues exposed how increased coor- secure Pacific Island communities. Climate Risk Management, 11, – dination could aid responses and build trust in times of crisis, 53 62. ” Eriksson, H., Ride, A., Boso, D., Sukulu, M., Batalofo, M., Siota, F., both now and in the future. Gomese, C. (2020). Changes and adaptations in village food sys- Before COVID-19 the Pacific food system had become tems in Solomon Islands: A rapid appraisal during the early stages of increasingly vulnerable to shocks and other disruptions to the COVID-19 pandemic. WorldFish program report: 2020–22. the production, distribution and acquisition of food. It Penang, Malaysia. had become that way for a multitude of historical and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2020a). FAOSTAT. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC. Accessed 03/ contemporary reasons and was already threatened by climate 03/2020. change and other external threats. Like climate change, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2020b). pandemic was created somewhere else, but threatens the FAOSTAT. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC. Accessed 05/ prosperity and wellbeing of Pacific people in profound ways. 04/2020. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2020c). Unlike climate change, the resilient people of the Pacific Keeping food and agricultural systems alive - Analyses and solu- regio can influence how this crisis plays out: whether it will tions in a period of crises - COVID-19 Pandemic. http://www.fao. catalyse change in the functioning of national food systems org/2019-ncov/analysis/en/. Accessed 27/04/2020. and their reliance on imported foods will be a critical issue in Global Nutrition Report (2018). Appendix 3: Countries with significant the coming years. multiple forms of malnutrition. https://globalnutritionreport.org/ reports/global-nutrition-report-2018/appendix-3-countries- significant-multiple-forms-malnutrition/. Acknowledgements Supported by funding from the Australian govern- Graue, C. (2020). Families in Samoa struggle as seasonal workers can't ment through ACIAR project FIS/2018/155. send money home. In A. R. Australia (Ed.), Pacific Beat. Haddad, L., Fanzo, J., Godfrey, S., Hawkes, C., Morris, S., Neufeld, L. Availability of data and material Not applicable. (2020a). The COVID-19 crisis and food systems: Addressing threats, creating opportunities. https://www.gainhealth.org/media/ Code availability Not applicable. news/covid-19-crisis-and-food-systems-addressing-threats- creating-opportunities. Accessed 06/04/2020. 788 Farrell P. et al.

Dr. Penny Farrell is a public Haddad, L., Fanzo, J., Godfrey, S., Hawkes, C., Morris, S., Neufeld, L. health researcher and veterinarian (2020b). The COVID-19 crisis and food systems: Probable impacts with over seven years of experi- and potential mitigation and adaptation responses. https://www. ence in health, nutrition, and agri- gainhealth.org/sites/default/files/news/documents/covid-19-crisis- culture policy research in Pacific and-food-systems-probable-impacts-and-potential-mitigation-and- Island Countries, Asia, and adaptation-responses.pdf. Accessed 06/04/2020. Africa. Penny recently completed High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and nutrition (HLPE). a PhD on food security in the (2020). Interim issues paper on the impact of COVID-19 on food Pacific region and has worked security and nutrition (FSN). Rome, Italy: Committee on World previously in the not-for-profit, Food Security. university, and government sec- Hughes, R., & Lawrence, M. (2005). Review article: Globalisation, food tors. Penny currently holds a po- and health in Pacific Island countries. Asia Pacific Journal of sition as a Research Fellow at The Clinical Nutrition, 14(4), 298–306. University of Sydney dedicated to Husain, A., Sandström, S., Greb, F., Groder, J., & Pallanch, C. (2020). researching how to build healthy COVID-19: Potential impact on the world’s poorest people.Rome, and sustainable food systems globally, with a focus on low income set- Italy: A WFP analysis of the economic and food security implica- tings. tions of the pandemic. Kaukui, I. (2020). MV Taimareho: Sea tragedy. Maclellan, N. (2020). Smart harvest. https://insidestory.org.au/smart-harvest/. Dr. Anne Marie Thow is an Associate Professor in Health Pacific Community (2020). Economic and Social Vulnerability to Policy at the University of COVID. https://sdd.spc.int/disasters-data/covid-19. Sydney. Her research uses theo- Sharpe, R., Parsons, K., & Hawkes, C. (2020). Coordination must be key ries of public policy making to to how governments respond to Covid-19 food impacts: A view from explore facilitators and barriers England. Rethinking Food Governance Guidance Note. London: to best practice public health nu- United Kingdom. trition policy, with a particular fo- Sievert, K., Lawrence, M., Naika, A., & Baker, P. (2019). Processed foods cus on the interface between eco- and nutrition transition in the Pacific: Regional trends, patterns and food nomic policy and nutrition. Anne system drivers. Nutrients, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11061328. Marie currently collaborates on Snowdon, W., Moodie, M., Schultz, J., & Swinburn, B. (2011). research in Asia, Africa and the Modelling of potential food policy interventions in Fiji and Tonga Pacific, designed to strengthen and their impacts on noncommunicable disease mortality. Food nutrition policy making, and reg- Policy, 36(5), 597–605. ularly consults with international Solomon Islands National Statistics Office, Ministry of Finance and agencies regarding nutrition policy, including the World Health Treasury, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, & in collaboration Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization and International with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Food Policy Research Institute. Prior to her PhD, Anne Marie worked and the World Bank. (2019). Report on National Agriculture Survey for the Governments of Australia and Fiji on nutrition policy issues. She 2017. Solomon Islands: Honiara. trained in nutrition and has a Masters in Public Policy and Economics. Steiner, R., Ruben, D., Milani, P., & Ehsani, M. (2020). Blog 16: Five COVID-19 reflections from a food system perspectives—And how we could take action. Geneva, Switzerland: Nutrition Connect. Dr. Jillian Tutuo Wate is a nutri- tionist by profession with over Thaman, R. R. (1982). Deterioration of traditional food systems, increas- 5 years of experience in public ing malnutrition and food dependency in the Pacific Islands. Journal health research and nutrition- of food & nutrition. related policy intervention for the Thow, A. M., Heywood, P., Schultz, J., Quested, C., Jan, S., & Colagiuri, prevention of obesity and non- S. (2011). Trade and the nutrition transition: Strengthening policy – communicable diseases in the for health in the Pacific. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 50(1), 18 Pacific. She has led the assess- 42. ment and monitoring work for Underhill, S. J., Zhou, Y., Sherzad, S., Singh-Peterson, L., & Tagoai, S. food environments in the Pacific M. (2017). Horticultural postharvest loss in municipal fruit and veg- under the Pacific Research Center – etable markets in Samoa. Food Security, 9(6), 1373 1383. for Prevention of Obesity and Vermeulen, S., Park, T, Khoury, CK, Mockshell, J, Béné, C, Thi, HT, Non-communicable Diseases (C- Heard, B, Wilson, B, (2019). Changing diets and transforming food POND). She is currently a systems. CCAFS Working Paper no. 282. Wageningen, the Research Fellow with WorldFish, Netherlands: CGIAR research program on climate change, agricul- an International Non-Governmental Organisation researching on ways to ture and food security (CCAFS). promote food and nutrition security in the Pacific food system to address Wood, T. (2020). What will COVID-19 mean for the Pacific: A problem the double burden of malnutrition in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. She is in four parts. DevPolicyBlog. Canberra, Australia: Development based in Honiara, Solomon Islands and has contributed to a range of policy Centre, Australian National University. multi-sectoral nutrition-related policies and research. COVID-19 and Pacific food system resilience: opportunities to build a robust response 789

Mr. Nichol NONGA holds a Mr. Michael K. Sharp is an Bachelor in Rural Techniques Economic Statistics and (Animal Production), University of Microdata Specialist at the Queensland; Diploma in Rural Pacific Community (SPC). Mike Techniques (Animal Production), has worked at SPC for 9-years Queensland Agriculture College, a wherehehassupported22 Certificate in Veterinary clinic and Pacific Island countries and terri- laboratory techniques, University tories (PICTs) to collect, compile of Queensland, Australia. Mr. and analyse development Nichol NONGA is currently the microdata, which range from fish- National Policy Officer (FIRST) eries and agricultural to nationally Solomon Islands, Food and representative census and survey Agriculture Organisation (FAO), data. His research interests mainly assisting the SIG developing poli- surround survey methodology to cies on Food and Nutrition extend the use of household in- Security (2017–2020). In 2007–2016, held the position of Animal come and expenditure survey data to conduct poverty, food security and Production Specialist, Animal Health & Production Thematic Group, The nutrition analysis in order to form an evidence base to address hardship Pacific Community (SPC), providing technical assistance and advice on and malnutrition in the Pacific region. Mike previously conducted field- animal production, climate change and as the regional focal point for work in Vanuatu and Guyana and he was employed in the Australian Animal Genetic Resources for FAO in the Pacific. Mr. Nichol NONGA is financial sector. He holds a master’s degree in economics and a bachelor’s a Solomon Islander, faithfully served the Solomon Islands Government for degree in agricultural economics. Mike is an Honorary Fellow with the 30 years holding various positions and finally as Director of Livestock and Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts, University of Wollongong. Veterinary Services Division, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock, Solomon Islands, 2004–2007. Dr. Anna Farmery is a Vice Chancellor’s Post-Doctoral Ms. Penina Vatucawaqa is a Research Fellow at the National Policy Officer in Food Australian National Centre for and Nutrition Security with the Ocean Resources and Security Food and Agriculture Organisation (ANCORS) at the University of (FAO) working for the Food and Wollongong in Australia. Her re- Nutrition Security, Impact, search is focussed on the integra- Resilience, Sustainability and tion of food and nutrition security Transformation (FIRST) Project in considerations in ocean and fish- Fiji. Her work with FAO FIRST eries governance, and on ways to includes providing government improve the overall contribution with policy assistance and capacity of seafood to food and nutrition development in support of im- security in terms of sustainable, proved food security, nutrition and equitable and rational resource sustainable agriculture in Fiji. Ms. use. She has published articles on issues of seafood sustainability and Vatucawaqa has also had a wide fisheries management, and on the integration of fish and food policies. experience in conducting nutrition research such as National Nutrition Anna has worked on aspects of sustainable food systems, in agriculture Surveys and Food Balance Sheets (a tool for assessing food availability) that and fisheries, for over 20 years and is currently investigating value chains has been used for developing policies in the country. and Pacific food systems.

Dr. Tom Brewer is an interdisci- Dr. Helen Trevena has experi- plinary scientist with training in ma- ence of working in the business, rine ecology and a Ph D in environ- non-government, and government mental sociology. He has been sectors in operational, consulting working in the Pacific for over a and policy roles. She is currently decade on natural resource manage- an Early Career Research Fellow ment and human development at the Menzies Centre for Health challenges. His primary skill is in Policy where her research interest integration of diverse data sources is policy to deliver a healthier to answer complex social- food supply. Helen is supported ecological questions relating to re- by a co-funded National Health source sustainability and human and Medical Research Council wellbeing. Tom is currently part of and Heart Foundation Early a team focused on improving food Career Fellowship. systems in the Pacific (ACIAR FIS- 2018-155). His primary role is in developing a database of food and beverage trade for the Pacific to better understand the influence of food trade in macro- scale food consumption patterns and non-communicable diseases such as obesity and diabetes. 790 Farrell P. et al.

Ms. Erica Reeve is a PhD candi- Ms. Georgina Mulcahy is a date with GLOBE at Deakin Research Assistant at the University. She has over 17 years Menzies Centre for Health of work experience in public Policy, University of Sydney, pro- health nutrition in the Asia viding policy analysis and re- Pacific region and remote search support to food systems Australian indigenous communi- policy projects across Sub- ties which includes extensive ex- Saharan Africa, Asia and the perience working with and con- Pacific. Georgina holds a Master sulting to national governments of Sustainability, University of and international organisations. Sydney, and has 7 years’ experi- She has experience in strategic ence working in health as an policy development, stakeholder Exercise Physiologist, namely engagement, programme plan- management of diet-related non- ning, health promotion and high- communicable diseases. level advocacy, particularly as applied to diets, NCDs reduction, and maternal and child nutrition. Dr. Jacob Eurich is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Marine Science Dr. Hampus Eriksson is a sys- Institute at University of tems ecologist. He is the Senior California, Santa Barbara. In Scientist at WorldFish, a CGIAR 2018 he obtained his PhD from centre, in Solomon Islands and an James Cook University and the Associate Professor at the Australia Research Council Australian National Centre for Centre of Excellence for Coral Ocean Resources and Security Reef Studies. He worked from (ANCORS) at the University of Papua New Guinea to the Great Wollongong in Australia. His re- Barrier Reef studying reef fish search focuses on rural develop- population and community re- ment through fish-based liveli- sponses to changes in habitat hoods; testing and evaluating in- structure and coral bleaching. novations that enhance fish-based His research now focuses on the livelihoods in small-scale fisher- interactions between coral reefs and human communities in the Pacific ies. The research is implemented region under the overarching themes of climate change, human use and through cross-disciplinary collaborations in the academic and fisheries resilience. Specifically, how much coral reef-derived foods matter to hu- sector in the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and Africa. man health and the effective reef management practices that lead to levels and types of seafood consumption that promote human nutrition. Ms. Itziar Gonzalez joined FAO in February 2016 as a policy offi- Neil Andrew is a Professor at the cer for Food Security, Nutrition Australian National Centre for and Sustainable Agriculture, Australian National Centre for working first in Sri Lanka and Ocean Resources and Security then in three Pacific countries (ANCORS) at the University of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Wollongong. He has worked at Fiji. Prior to this position, Itziar the interface between fisheries spent over 20 years implementing and ecological research and poli- and providing technical advice to cy for more than 30 years in a rural development initiatives in wide range of contexts, including different countries of South and in Australia, New Zealand, Central America and the Zambia, Malawi and in the Caribbean. During these years, Pacific region. Before joining she was involved in different ANCORS he worked as the glob- Development initiatives from the United Nations, the Spanish Agency al program leader in small-scale for International Development Cooperation, and some Spanish NGOs, fisheries at the CGIAR Centre, WorldFish, based in Penang, Malaysia. amassing knowledge on different areas of expertise, as integral farming, Professor Andrew is widely published in fisheries and ecology. food systems and nutrition sensitive agriculture, community forestry or artisanal fisheries and aquaculture. She is an agricultural engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain and obtained an MSc in Management of Agro-ecological Knowledge and Social Change from the University of Wageningen, The Netherlands in 2005. COVID-19 and Pacific food system resilience: opportunities to build a robust response 791

Affiliations

1 Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre 5 Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, (D17), Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia 6 Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia 2 WorldFish, Honiara, Solomon Islands 7 Global Obesity Centre, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty 3 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia Honiara, Solomon Islands 8 Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, 4 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Santa Barbara, CA, USA Suva, Fiji 9 Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA